NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 7 November 2018 – Japanese Cargo Spacecraft Released

Expedition 57 Commander Alexander Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency), with back-up support from NASA astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor, used the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm to release a Japanese cargo spacecraft at 11:51 a.m. EST.
At the time of release, the space station was flying 254 miles over the northern Pacific Ocean. Earlier, ground controllers used the robotic arm to unberth the cargo craft.

After release, a new, small reentry capsule will be deployed from the unpiloted H-II Transfer Vehicle-7 (HTV-7) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Designed by JAXA and assembled by the station crew, the conically shaped capsule measures 2 feet in height and 2.7 feet in width. The project is a technology demonstration designed to test JAXA’s ability to return small payloads from the station for expedited delivery to researchers.

HTV-7 will be a safe distance away from the space station after the last of several deorbit maneuvers. The return capsule will be ejected from a hatchway after the deorbit burn. The experimental capsule will perform a parachute-assisted splashdown off the coast of Japan, where a JAXA ship will be standing by for its recovery.

The HTV-7 spacecraft is scheduled to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and burn up harmlessly over the South Pacific Ocean Nov. 10.

On-Orbit Status Report

H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)-7 Departure: This morning, the crew finished closing out the Node 2 vestibule by demating all umbilicals and depressurizing the vestibule between HTV-7 and Node 2 in preparation for the unberth. Commands were sent to the release Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) bolts prior to unberth. Robotic Flight Controllers then maneuvered HTV-7 to the release position utilizing the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). HTV-7 was subsequently released by the crew at 10:51 CT. Just after the HTV deorbit burn occurs on Saturday November 10, the HTV Small Re-entry Capsule (HSRC) will deploy from HTV with an intended splashdown southwest of Japan occurring at 4:06PM CT. The HSRC with JAXA Low Temperature Protein Crystal Growth (LT PCG) samples inside will then be retrieved and returned to Japan. The HSRC measures 840mm in diameter, 190kg in weight, and contains roughly 30L pressurized volume for sample return.

Veggie: The crew placed markings on the watering syringes in preparation for future plant watering. Veggie-03 plants were checked for growth progression and watered as necessary. Photos were taken and placed on a flash card for downlink to the ground. The Vegetable Production System (Veggie) is a deployable plant growth unit capable of producing salad-type crops to provide the crew with a palatable, nutritious, and safe source of fresh food and a tool to support relaxation and recreation.

Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST): BEST experiment operations part 3 were completed today to demonstrate direct ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing with the MinION miniature deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencer using the sample kit retrieved from MELFI 1. The BEST investigation studies the use of sequencing for identification of unknown microbial organisms living on the ISS, and how humans, plants and microbes adapt to living on the ISS.

Plasma Kristall-4: The crew performed particle trapping activities using the Argon Gas line. Experiment was initiated via the European Physiology Module (EPM) laptop. Plasma Krystall-4 (PK-4) is a scientific collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), performing research in the field of “Complex Plasmas”: low temperature gaseous mixtures composed of ionized gas, neutral gas, and micron-sized particles. The micro-particles become highly charged in the plasma and interact strongly with each other, which can lead to a self-organized structure of the micro-particles: so-called plasma crystals. Experiments in the facility aim to study Transport Properties, Thermodynamics, Kinetics and Statistical Physics, and Non-linear waves and Instabilities in the plasmas.

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations: Robotics Ground Controllers powered up the MSS in the Hot Backup Configuration and unberthed HTV-7 from the Node 2 Nadir Active Common Berthing Mechanism (ACBM) using the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). They then maneuvered HTV-7 to the release. After HTV-7 departure, Controllers maneuvered the SSRMS to a park position, de-configured the MSS from Hot Backup and supported a video survey of the Node 2 Nadir ACBM. Once the survey was complete, the MSS was powered down.

Completed Task List Activities:
None

Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
HTV-7 departure support

Two Day Look Ahead:
Thursday, 11/08:

Payloads:
Team Task Switching activity (NASA)
Food Accept (NASA)
Meteor HD Update (NASA)
PK-4 HD and Chamber Gas Exchanges (ESA)
ISS HAM (NASA)

Systems:
ISS EMER Sim OBT
Cygnus RNDZ OBT

Friday, 11/09:

Payloads:
BCAT Imagery Transfer (NASA)
CIR Manifold Bottle change (NASA-RUS joint)
PK-4 Run 4 and chamber cleaning(ESA-RUS)
BPC Plate loading (NASA)
VEG-03 chk and watering (NASA)
BEST H/W stow (NASA)
Time Perception (ESA)
LMM Biophsics-06 reconfig (NASA)

Systems:
Port Radiator Survey

Today’s Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Making a documentary about life onboard the ISS
R PAO event report preparation
ECON-M. Observations and photo (Task list)
Recharging Samsung tablet in 55S
Photo TV High Definition Node 2 Video Setup
HTV Vestibule Configure for Demate – Part 2
HTV/NODE 2 VESTIBULE DEPRESS PART 1
PK-4 data hard drives exchange
Robotic Workstation (RWS) High Definition (HD) Monitor Downlink
Control of closing of a window №6,8,9,12,13,14 cover
HTV/NODE 2 VESTIBULE DEPRESS PART 2
MORNING PREPARATION WORK
HTV/NODE 2 VESTIBULE DEPRESS PART 3
PK-4 Experiment Run 2/1
HTV Portable Computer System (PCS) Command Verification
HTV/NODE 2 VESTIBULE PRESSURE CHECK
СТТС configuration for MRM1
Recovery of RS Urine Circulation Loop [СРВ-У]
HTV/NODE 2 VESTIBULE PRESSURE CHECK
Veg-03 Water Syringe Marking
HTV/NODE 2 VESTIBULE DEPRESS PART 4
Ultrasound 2 HRF Rack 1 Power On
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Ultrasound 2 Scan
Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) MWA Preparation
СТТС reconfiguration in MRM1
Photos of HTV and HTV Small Re-entry Capsule
PK-4 Experiment Run 2/2
HTV/NODE 2 VESTIBULE DEPRESS PART 5
Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) MELFI Sample Retrieve
Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) Experiment 1 Part 3
ЕДВ Audit for СРВ-У
Verification of ИП-1 Flow Sensor Position
VEG-03G Plant Check/Water
Restow Node 2 Nadir Vestibule Outfitting Kit (VOK) and Handrails used for HTV-7 Small Re-entry Capsule
USOS Window Shutter Close
MSS HTV Release Setup
HTV Departure Preparations
Post-Exercise Hygiene Procedure
SSRMS HTV Release and Departure Monitoring
СОЖ maintenance
Remote Workstation Monitor HD Video Downlink Deactivation RWS.
Review Emergency OBT Simulator Functionality
Delta file prep
PAO Preparation